How the coach of Notre Dame DL commit Davion Dixon compared him to a five-star prospect

In his 11 seasons at the helm of Miami Palmetto, coach Mike Manasco has been fortunate to have several talented defensive line recruits. Notre Dame football commit Davion Dixon is just the latest.

In addition to the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Dixon, Manasco has coached five-star Leonard Taylor , who signed on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent this offseason, and multiple other FBS standouts. Each one of those players has met something different to the Palmetto football program. As for Dixon, he is letting his work ethic define his legacy.

“Where Davion separates himself from those guys is by how much work he puts in,” Manasco told Blue & Gold .

Palmetto reaped the benefits of Dixon’s dedication in his first season with the Panthers. After transferring from Miami Belen Jesuit, Dixon helped Palmetto reach the Florida 4M playoffs regional semifinal. He registered 64 tackles (35 solo), 16 for loss, 7 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries during his junior season.

As the season progressed, Manasco saw Dixon develop into a dominant D-lineman.

“He’s always been a big-bodied football player,” Manasco said. “But playing against the competition we play against has brought the dog out in him.”

Still, the three-star prospect was far from satisfied with his performance. Dixon, the nation’s No. 69 defensive tackle and the No. 94 recruit in Florida in the 2025 class, has utilized his final high school offseason to refine his athleticism, speed and quickness.

Manasco credited Dixon’s multiple daily workouts for his progression. The rising senior trains with his high school team and a personal speed and strength coach. It is Dixon’s way of preparing for his final prep season and the upcoming challenges of playing college football at Notre Dame.

“He is a relentless worker, so he does a lot of stuff on his own,” Manasco said. “He’s starting to see that at the level he is going to play, you don’t have time for days off. He’s going to be elite, and he’s training that way.”

Davion Dixon’s coach details expectations for the Notre Dame defensive line commit’s senior season

Manasco already saw how Dixon’s offseason development has benefitted his production. During Palmetto’s spring exhibition season, Dixon controlled the line of scrimmage and made several plays in the backfield, setting appropriately high expectations for his senior campaign.

“I expect him to be even more dominant,” Manasco said. “I expect him to basically control the run game.”

While Dixon’s physical presence is undeniable, he also has the mental capacity to play multiple positions at a high level. Manasco expects to use Dixon at both 3-technique/4i (on the offensive tackle’s inside shoulder) and nose tackle this season.

Meanwhile, Manasco is challenging Dixon to use his football intelligence to become ingrained with knowing how the rest of the defense operates. It is the next step in a projected leadership role that can help round out his already budding elite profile.

“To me, that’s the defining character of an elite player — guys that can make the players around them better,” Manasco said. “That’s something that he can do and is already doing. He is not just being counted on but is there for everyone else. …

“Even as a coach, we can always increase our football IQ. That will be huge as he moves forward, too, because you can get a better feel for the game if you know what blocks you’re going against. …

“As far as what’s going on once that whistle blows, he already has it. The other things are the things that he will grow into because he’s that type of person. He’s not a guy that’s going to beat his chest and say, ‘Watch me.’ He’s a guy that’s going to get it done.”

It will not be long before Dixon returns to the gridiron, making routine game-changing plays. Palmetto’s season kicks off against Homestead (Fla.) High in about seven weeks.

Though Dixon will not be able to shy away from the spotlight, Manasco sees the attention as the next step in Dixon’s already decorated football career. Soon enough, it will go from South Florida to South Bend.

“We’ve been fortunate to have a Leonard Taylor to come through our program as a dominant D-tackle,” Manasco said. “And to have Davion follow that up a couple of years later — most coaches don’t get to coach that type of talent in their lifetime. You don’t get these generational — especially big kids.

“In South Florida, people know us for speed and skill kids. But to have those two guys — Davion Dixon is going to be playing football for a long time.”

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